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Microsoft Corp. is working with the OPC Foundation to enable almost any IIoT scenario using interoperability between the millions of OPC UA-compliant applications and equipment. Microsoft will enable IIoT users to connect manufacturing equipment and software with extended support of OPC UA's open-source software stack. Microsoft’s extended support for OPC UA spans its IoT offerings from local connectivity with Windows devices to cloud connectivity via Microsoft Azure. Integration with Azure IoT allows customers to easily send OPC UA data to the Azure cloud, as well as command and control OPC UA devices remotely from the Azure cloud.
Pepperl+Fuchs broke ground June 2 on its new U.S. distribution and engineering center in Katy, Texas, near…

While routine build-up and clogging in process applications is annoying, process scaling is more persistent, causes unplanned downtime and increases costs in many industries. It's typically composed of calcium carbonate, wax, grease or similar…

Just as you can't have too many friends, level measurement applications can't get enough ease of use, reliability and safety. Thanks to increasing process industry needs and user demand for them, these are the three unifying priorities that drove…

Our panel of experts explore best practices for dealing with buildup on chemical seals of a differential pressure flowmeter.

Q: We have a venturi flowmeter with 3-in. flanged pressure taps and flanged chemical seals with capillary tubes in a 44-in. vertical pipe (Figure 1). The fluid is hydrocarbon (polymeric) gas. The problem is that the chemical seal diaphragms often…

A Control Design reader writes: We have several temperature, pressure and flow sensors on a new medical-device cleaning skid that we are developing. These instruments are connected to a PLC as 4-20 mA inputs, and there is also a 4-20 mA output used to control a pump motor speed. A recent failure of a flow sensor brought the process skid instrumentation to my company's quality manager's attention. He asked how we know that the temperatures, pressure and flow are accurate, and how do we know that we are cleaning properly.
I've been tasked to write a procedure for troubleshooting, calibrating and testing the 4-20 mA instruments on the skid. I can probably stumble through this, but what are some best practices for troubleshooting the analog…

Control's Monthly Resource Guide brings you the latest online resources on a variety of process control topics.

MULTI-PART WEIGHING
This four-section webpage by Omega Engineering covers "Weighing Applications," "Weighing System Design," "Installation and Calibration" and "Specialized Installations." The whole group is located at…

FOPDT model has demonstrated utility for controller tuning rules, for structuring decouplers and feedforward control algorithms.

A first-order plus deadtime (FOPDT) model is a simple approximation of the dynamic response (the transient or time-response) of a process variable to an influence. It’s also called first-order lag plus deadtime (FOLPDT), or “deadtime” may be…

'To the degree networks and standards can provide easy, consistent and seamless access to device-resident controls, the vision of truly distributed control may finally dawn upon us.'

Every compressor in the facility went down at once that day, when a PLC redundancy switchover didn’t transfer in time. The engineers didn’t know that each P453 remote I/O processor had a dip-switch-selectable timeout setting—if it didn’t…

A Control Design reader writes: We have several temperature, pressure and flow sensors on a new medical-device cleaning skid that we are developing. These instruments are connected to a PLC as 4-20 mA inputs, and there is also a 4-20 mA output used to control a pump motor speed. A recent failure of a flow sensor brought the process skid instrumentation to my company's quality manager's attention. He asked how we know that the temperatures, pressure and flow are accurate, and how do we know that we are cleaning properly.
I've been tasked to write a procedure for troubleshooting, calibrating and testing the 4-20 mA instruments on the skid. I can probably stumble through this, but what are some best practices for troubleshooting the analog…

Most public utilities deliver basic power and water, and God bless them for doing it. However, a few go beyond their essential missions, and seek to further enhance the overall well-being and prosperity of their communities.
One of these is…

Advanced control on fuel and steam can control emissions while saving millions.

It’s no secret that advanced process control (APC) has played a major role in the process industries for many decades. However, while many organizations focus only on major process units, there’s often an untapped opportunity to do more, and…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Just when it seems like today’s sophisticated motors and drives can’t possibly add more efficiencies and capabilities, engineers conjure up new tricks and refinements, followed by end users and system integrators who materialize new settings and…

Control's monthly guide brings you invaluable industry information to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments.

THE CLASSIC VALVE BOOK
The fourth edition of the 295-page classic text, "Control Valve Handbook," by Fisher Controls International and Emerson Process Management reports this classic text has been a primary reference since its first printing in1965.

Control's monthly guide brings you invaluable industry information to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments.

THE CLASSIC VALVE BOOK
The fourth edition of the 295-page classic text, "Control Valve Handbook," by Fisher Controls International and Emerson Process Management reports this classic text has been a primary reference since its first printing in1965.

Just when it seems like today’s sophisticated motors and drives can’t possibly add more efficiencies and capabilities, engineers conjure up new tricks and refinements, followed by end users and system integrators who materialize new settings and…

Actionable information is essential for the effectiveness of the 'loop,' as it is for closed-loop control and open-loop alarms.

When I sat down in my office this morning, I was greeted by the operations manager, who pointed out an entry from last night’s operations log: “Did you see? The boiler steam vent is in manual because the pressure reading whacked out and made the…

Actionable information is essential for the effectiveness of the 'loop,' as it is for closed-loop control and open-loop alarms.

When I sat down in my office this morning, I was greeted by the operations manager, who pointed out an entry from last night’s operations log: “Did you see? The boiler steam vent is in manual because the pressure reading whacked out and made the…

Actionable information is essential for the effectiveness of the 'loop,' as it is for closed-loop control and open-loop alarms.

When I sat down in my office this morning, I was greeted by the operations manager, who pointed out an entry from last night’s operations log: “Did you see? The boiler steam vent is in manual because the pressure reading whacked out and made the…

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Visualizing and contextualizing safety data can have a positive impact on productivity and compliance.

"Information is one thing, but safety information is quite another," says George Schuster. He should know. He’s charged with business development for the Global Safety Team of Rockwell Automation and has seen many plants and factories begin to…

How to deal with the constraints of putting access points in hazardous areas.

In an ideal world, it wouldn’t be necessary to worry about explosive atmospheres. Unfortunately, plant environments are far from ideal, with most process plants being about 80% Class I, Div. 2 (Zone 2) and another 10% Class I Div. 1 (Zone 1), so…

Key is to learn as much as possible to make digital technologies safe, secure and successful in process settings.

As usual, and I’m sure this is true for many of you, this year’s autumn season has been a frantic dash of work, deadlines, sleep deprivation, indigestion and suspiciously arthritic stiffness. In my case, this means covering all sides of the…

With today’s network technology, even Ethernet and wireless are almost always fast enough.

As automation professionals, one issue we have about control loops is ensuring we're able to support real-time control. Historically, when Ethernet was 10 MB/s and there were multiple drops on a single port, collisions were a significant concern and…

With today’s network technology, even Ethernet and wireless are almost always fast enough.

As automation professionals, one issue we have about control loops is ensuring we're able to support real-time control. Historically, when Ethernet was 10 MB/s and there were multiple drops on a single port, collisions were a significant concern and…

Because they're the crossroads, nexus and Grand Central Station for sensor signals and data arriving and requests and actuation instructions departing, it's a big help that I/O and terminal blocks are more flexible and capable than ever.

Compact, Remote I/O for Zone 2/Div 2
LB System remote I/O has more power in less space with high-performance, compact modules plugged into a backplane. Energy-saving power management and low-power dissipation allow maximum packing density. With the…

Be just 33 seconds more productive each hour, and the savings mount quickly.

Rockwell Automation previewed its new, forward-looking App Platform for mobility at this week’s TechED conference in Orlando. While focused first on redefining smartphone use on the plant floor – with the aim of making individual workers more…

Control’s latest State of Technology report delves into the many aspects of power systems of interest in process plants.

From sourcing and ensuring uninterrupted flows of clean electricity to monitoring, regulating and metering generation and consumption throughout a facility, process automation professionals who want a smooth-running, efficient and reliable facility are well advised to seek and control power.
This anthology of recent articles delves into the many aspects of power systems of interest in process plants. Remote and wireless systems are speeding development and standardization of energy harvesting and improved battery systems.
Line-powered supplies that used to only transform electricity and maybe offer surge protection are now monitoring and measuring current and voltage profiles, implementing alerts and alarms, and sending data up to…

Greg: Here we take advantage of the chance to talk to Bill Thomas, who provides a great lesson of how to succeed in advancing capabilities and opportunities in his career and the control systems for which he was responsible. His career and the…

Control's monthly guide brings you invaluable industry information to stay up to date on the latest trends and developments.

AT THEIR BEST, ALL THE TIME
ExperTune’s white paper, “How to Improve Performance of Process Control Assets,” by George Buckbee, P.E., describes the practice of real-time asset performance management, shows how to get assets to perform at their best all the time, and demonstrates the value of integrating these tools for a performance picture that delivers financial results. It’s available here.
ISA / www.isa.org
ANALYZING, PREDICTING PROBLEMS
This 57-minute video, “Avoid Equipment Surprises: Predictive Diagnostics for Oil & Gas,” is presented by Joe Dupree, GE Automation and Controls, and users from NiSource Gas and Alyeska. They demonstrate condition-based monitoring, predictive analytics and other tools for evaluating…

Steve Christian remembers the days—not too long ago—when production schedules were printed on sheets of paper and distributed to operators at his plant, who would manually twist valve handles to send the Ragu sauce tomato slurry from one kettle…

Advanced control on fuel and steam can control emissions while saving millions.

It’s no secret that advanced process control (APC) has played a major role in the process industries for many decades. However, while many organizations focus only on major process units, there’s often an untapped opportunity to do more, and…

Find and slay the dragons lurking in the typical safety instrumented system.

Cybersecurity is a growing concern in the process industries, and a number of good articles have been written about it for industrial control systems (ICS)—many full of doom and gloom. Here, we will divide the ICS into two parts: safety…

Big data can only help users if they understand what it is, how it can affect their controls and processes, and how they can use it to optimize operations.

Similar to any new technology emerging on the process control front, big data can only help users make better decisions if they understand what it is, how it can affect their controls and processes, and how they can use it to optimize operations.

Our readers tell us who they think delivers the best technology in our industry

There's knowledge in our readers. That's why every year we ask our loyal audience to help us determine which automation service providers offer the best products and brands they can rely on to get the best combination of performance, ease of use,…

Schleiss Predicts that Emerson's Forthcoming DeltaV Launch Will Be "at Least as Big as DeltaV SIS"

Observers and competitors who have speculated that DeltaV is "getting a bit long in the tooth," as one contributor to Jim Pinto's Emerson weblog put it back in May 2008, may have their expectations―or is that their apprehensions?―confirmed at the forthcoming Emerson Global Users Exchange at the end of September. Normally such suggestions are met with robust denials and assertions that, as a continually evolving system based on COTS technologies, DeltaV has more than kept abreast with competitors' developments and that, in its current incarnation, it bears little resemblance to the original system which first saw the light of day back in 1996.

Time to Sit Up and Take Notice

So when Duncan Schleiss, vice president of marketing at Emerson Process Management, says that this year's Emerson Exchange in Orlando at the end of September will see initiatives related to DeltaV which are "at least as big as DeltaV SIS" it's time to sit up and pay attention.

Schleiss was talking to INSIDER over dinner in London on his way from the Netherlands to the Ovation user conference in Pittsburgh in late July and, while he gave absolutely nothing away in terms of the actual content of the forthcoming announcement, he made it pretty clear that this was the 'DeltaX' referred to by, among others, Control's Walt Boyes and Keith Larson after last year's Exchange or, indeed, the 'DeltaVx' suggested, tongue in cheek, by ABB's Nick Laming earlier this year, a suggestion Schleiss said they had been tempted to adopt.

Both the original DeltaV in 1996 and DeltaV SIS in 2004 marked radical departures from then current accepted thinking so it's fair to assume that if Schleiss, who was arguably the major driver behind both initiatives, puts the forthcoming announcement in that category, visitors to this year's exchange can expect something rather more significant than the normal round of annual updates and enhancements. And while he gave little or nothing away last month, there are pointers to where that radical thinking might be directed. Presentations at, and journalist briefings during and after last year's Exchange in Washington both highlighted the new features in the then-latest release, DeltaV version 10.3, and gave pointers to what might follow. The former included support for Windows Vista and a range of new configuration and engineering tools, but the latter focussed particularly on detailed, but wide-ranging, research Emerson had been conducting into who its users are, what they do and what they expect of their systems.

Homer, Gunther and Ian

As a result Schleiss's team was able to build up 20 or more generic users or "characters," dubbed, among others, "Homer, " "Gunther" and "Ian, " with roles ranging from operator to instrument technician, and to define around them the characteristics that a new generation process automation system would need to have in order to satisfy their needs and aspirations.

From there it's perhaps a short step to speculate that the major emphasis in September will be on greater ease of use for both operators and maintenance and support staff. "We are big proponents [of[ making it easy for the instrument technicians," Schleiss had told Boyes and Larson last year.

Another pointer could be Schleiss's interest in and acknowledged admiration for the Honeywell-led Abnormal Situations Management (ASM) consortium, if only as a marketing exercise. He told INSIDER that Emerson had at one point expressed an interest in joining the consortium, but had been less enthusiastic when it had been explained that it would have had subsequently to pay to use any of its own intellectual property which it might have made available, a realization which gave rise to a particularly wry "Schleissism. "

Media Teasing

All in all, this latest conversation with INSIDER, no doubt to be repeated with others on an increasingly frequent basis between now and the end of September, was as neat a piece of media teasing as you're likely to encounter. Our interest has been aroused and communicated to our readers, thereby getting potential users and competitors on the edge of their seats, while Schleiss has given absolutely nothing away. Nice one, Duncan.

Among the other topics touched on in a wide ranging conversation over the scallops and fish pie was the ongoing relationship between FDT, EDDL, FDI and now FDT 2.0.

Readers may recall that outgoing FDT Group managing director Flavio Tolfo had seemed to raise doubts in conversation with INSIDER that the ambition of the FDI initiative to effect an eventual convergence of the rival technologies was in fact achievable, thus leading us to conclude that "The decision to go ahead with FDT 2.0 represents a tacit admission, at least from the FDT side, that he two technologies are ultimately mutually incompatible."

Schleiss, however, seems to take the opposite view, not only suggesting that FDI's objectives are realizable, but also raising doubts about FDT 2.0. The latter, he suggests, presents device manufacturers, including presumably Emerson itself, with the challenge and the cost of having to revise all of their existing DTMs in order to comply with FDT 2.0 once it becomes available.

It may or may not be a coincidence that the announcement made by the EDDL Cooperation Team (ECT) earlier this year that the FDI Project Team "has achieved important milestones" seems to have been re-released and has recently appeared in a number of publications including ARC's weekly ARCwire update. For those, including us, who missed it first time round, the announcement said that validation of the detailed specification would begin in the second quarter of this year, while details of the exact FDI architecture and associated device interface are set to be unveiled with the release of the final functional specification in the summer of 2010. That architecture is described as a client/server structure based on OPC UA with a "device package" provided by the device supplier containing EDDL components and an optional programmed component for programmed user interfaces.

Emerson's DeltaV is enabling increased accuracy and speed of recipe changes at Pernod Ricard Nordic's new bitters blending facility at Aalborg, Denmark. As the main automation contractor, Emerson was responsible for front-end engineering and design (FEED) and implementation of the PlantWeb-based solution which also incorporates HART communications and intelligent devices. The ISA88-compliant solution controls blending from some 130 tanks in the facility.

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